Centuries-old well-preserved corpse covered in fine cloth discovered in China

Construction workers in China were shocked to discover a centuries-old coffin containing an extremely well-preserved male corpse.

The intact body was unearthed in Anhua County, China's Hunan province 
[Credit: AsiaWire]

The man is thought to have died sometime during the Ming (1368 to 1644 AD) or Qing (1644 to 1912) dynasties.

He was unearthed in Zhizhu village, Anhua County in China's Hunan province dressed in fine fabrics and laid to rest with his favourite fan.

Limestone and fine wood was used to build his coffin, which acted a preservative for the body.

The man is thought to have died between the Ming (1368 to 1644 AD) and Qing dynasties (1644 to 1912) 
[Credit: AsiaWire]

China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage say they believe the man was a noble or at least came from a rich background.

The mountain he was found is thought to belong to a family surnamed Wang. 

According to officials, the burial site was accidentally unearthed by an excavator. It's thought to be the first well-preserved body from the Ming or Qing dynasty in that town.

Limestone and fine wood was used to build his coffin, which acted a preservative for the body 
[Credit: AsiaWire]

According to an expert, it's thought that the texture of the coffin and the tomb has helped keep the corpse relatively intact.

It has since been removed from the site and will be studied. However in ancient Chinese culture it is considered bad luck to open a coffin.